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Personal Support Specialist (PSS) - Overview

The Personal Support Specialist (PSS) is designed for unlicensed entry-level workers. Successful completion of this course satisfies Departmental training requirements for direct care workers for certain home care programs and residential care facilities.

The PSS curriculum is a standard curriculum and replaces any programs previously approved for Personal Care Attendants (PCA's) and Residential Care Specialist I's (RCS I's) prior to September 1, 2003.

Anyone with a PCA certificate may continue to work as a PCA after September 1, 2003, and is not required to take the PSS curriculum in the home health care arena. Anyone with an RCS I certificate may continue to work in residential care settings after September 1, 2003, and is not required to take the PSS curriculum. However, in order for a PCA to crossover to a residential care facility or for an RCS I to cross over to a home care program, they must successfully complete the PSS curriculum.

If you are a Level I or Level II Assisted Housing Program or a Waivered Home through the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS), there may be medication administration requirements necessary within the MaineCare Manual that must be followed.  For question use the following link for MaineCare contact information: Contact Us

Level IV residential care facilities must have unlicensed personnel (other than C.N.A.'s) trained in a course approved by the Department when job responsibilities include direct service to residents for at least twenty (20) hours per week. Training must be completed within 120 days of hiring.

Certain Level IV facilities whose primary purpose is to care for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities may be approved to have alternative training. If you have any questions regarding your facility, contact the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) at (207) 287-9200 - OADS Site, or the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) at (207)287-2595 - OBH Site.

This program involves a minimum of 40 classroom hours and a 10 hour face to face clinical component. This program can only be taught by trainers approved the Department of Health and Human Services.

Further information regarding this program may be obtained by contacting the Division of Licensing & Certification at (207)287-9300 or dlrs.info@maine.gov